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The clock is ticking. the international break gives us all a brief, frustrating pause with no Premier League action next weekend. For some, it is an opportunity to tweak systems and for West Ham no doubt time to improve new recruit fitness and integration into the evolving Lopetegui high press, high energy possession based-game.  For others, West Ham’s Niclas Fullkrug included, the race is on to be fit and on the team sheet come the 19th October lunchtime start against old enemy Tottenham Hotspur.

Fullkrug has been struggling with what has at various times been described as an achilles or heel injury and he hasn’t played since the last international break.

Spurs, too, have their issues and have suffered a noticeable drop in form.

According to EPL Index  this is due to playing “without their talismanic captain Heung-Min Son, who  has been notably absent from Tottenham’s last three fixtures due to a hamstring injury he sustained during the Europa League win over Qarabag. His absence has clearly impacted the squad, as his energy and leadership on the field are irreplaceable.”

Son has been struggling to return to match fitness, with boss Postecoglou confirming that he’ll miss the Internationals but is targeting a return from injury for – the home game against West Ham. Cutting it fine then, with less than two weeks to be ready.

Facing a battle to be fit for London derby: Heung Min Son

Spurs’ news on other established team member Richarlison is even less positive: His injury is a calf issue which is ‘kind of long term’ according to his manager and means he’ll miss the London derby. Summer signing Wilson Odobert is also out until November with a hamstring injury.

So it will be a battle against time for Son to be fit – probably he won’t be up to playing  a full ninety minutes if he does start on Saturday week. He has such a knack of scoring against West Ham (six Premier League goals and counting) – that his absence would be a big blow.